Time

Greece is 8 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. Getting sleep on the overnight flight is important. We will not nap when we land in Athens. Waiting to sleep until bedtime will help get over jet lag.

When calling home, remember they are 8 hours behind us. They won't be as excited to hear from you if you wake them in the middle of the night!

Try out this World Clock Converter.
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Group Travel

Number one rule: be flexible! Sometimes…life happens and we have no control over it. It could be raining, a scheduled site could be closed for repairs, road construction, flat tire, transportation strikes, etc. We just need to be flexible and deal with it. Less stress makes for a more enjoyable vacation.

Number two rule: be on time! Consider the group before staying in a site too long. It makes the entire group have to wait and could cause us to miss some time at the next site.

Number three rule: be patient! There will be a lot of personalities…it’s a big ship!
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Money and Tipping

Greece uses the Euro. I recommend getting some Euro before departure (if possible) for water or food in Madrid (or your layover airport) or on arrival in Athens. Shop around and check for charges for conversions. Keep up with the local conversion rate at XE Universal Currency Converter.

Then use an ATM card to get Euros while in Greece. Avoid making a lot of withdrawals because banks will charge a finance fee for each transaction. Check with your bank before departure.

Using ATM cards and credit cards is recommended over travelers checks. Contact your bank and credit card company and let them know to expect charges from Greece, the islands and Turkey, as well as any airplane layover stops as you may make purchases in these airports.

Some travelers actually open a separate checking account for their ATM travel money. That way if the card is stolen it does not drain your entire funds.

How much do you need? Consider the excursions you want to take. They can only be purchased on the cruise ship. Lunches on land are on your own. All meals are provided on the ship, but if you want to eat on any island, it will be on you (unless you pack a picnic from the cruise buffets!). If you drink tap water, it is free with meals, but if you want soda, bottled water or an alcoholic beverage at any meal it is on you.

Also remember souvenirs. Any transportation other than the provided tour bus, cruise ship, or excursion transport will be on you, such as a city bus or subway to a walking tour.

TIPPING
Bring with you the following tips:
Tour director - $6/day x 9 days = $54 US (Will be with us throughout the tour and the cruise)

Bus driver - $3/day x 5 days = $15 US

The tour director tips and the bus driver tips I’ll collect our last night and we will present to them as a group.

Tips on the cruise: You will have a shipboard account and $10/day x 4 = $40 US will automatically be added for staff tips. Check on your shipboard account the night before we leave the ship and give yourself time to question any charges. It will save time and stress on debarking day.

Local guides: It is totally up to you if you think the guide has been exceptional to tip individually 1-2 Euro, but it is not required.
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Flights

EF will send etickets and I will forward those on to you. Those of us flying out of DFW will meet at the departure gate after checking in and going through security. This will help save time without anyone having to wait on anyone else.

Some out of state travelers will meet us in Athens. You will need your passport (the one thing you cannot leave home without!) to check in.
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Packing

Rule #1 (Actually it's the ONLY packing rule!) – Pack light! You can have one checked bag and two carry-on bags, but I don’t recommend large suitcases because you have to porter your own luggage. You should plan on one average size suitcase (rolling is your best bet) and a backpack or under the airplane seat size bag. I do not plan to check my bag but use the smaller size and carry on both bags. Your call.

Tips:
--roll clothes to prevent wrinkles and save space or put a day’s set of clothes in 2-1/2 gallon Ziploc bags.
--put toiletries, camera, and a change of clothes in your carry on…going and coming.
--pack extra camera batteries and memory cards.
--prescriptions need to be in original bottles. Ask your pharmacy if they can provide you with smaller bottles with labels.
--will need an electric voltage converter and a Greece plug adaptor as Europe electrical outlets are different from US. They are 220v instead of 110v. I recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit available at Walmart or Target. View more information about electrical standards around the world.
--pack some extra garbage bags for dirty or wet clothes. Pack extra different sizes of Ziploc bags for a variety of reasons.
--pack easy traveling snacks (not ones that crumble or melt). Sometimes dinner or lunch is late depending on the schedule.
--put a copy of your passport in your bag and keep your actual passport inside your clothes in a neck or waist pouch. Also keep the majority of your money in this same safe place. Just take out the daily amount of cash. Also watch out for pickpockets!
--make sure that any day visiting a religious site that shoulders and knees should be covered (if you’re in shorts, wrap a shawl around your waist, slip on wind pants)
--toiletries should be packed 3-1-1….gels, aerosols, liquids are no more than 3.4 ounces in only one bag that is no larger than one quart. Try to get as many in travel size as possible. This bag will need to be out and go through the security scan outside your luggage. Too many toiletries or health and beauty aids in too large sizes is the number one way to save space in luggage.
--wear comfortable shoes!! Don’t bring new ones you haven’t broken in. Bring a spare pair in case a strap breaks or they get wet. I like Teva brand, and I've bought them on clearance racks, Ross at a discount, and on Amazon.
--pack a journal and write, write, write. Remember the fun!
--weather is expected to be warm…probably very warm (OK, hot!). But it never hurts to bring a light jacket just in case. Pack a hat, light weight shirt, and sunscreen for sun protection.
--always need an umbrella or a rain jacket.
--don’t forget your swimsuit for the pool or the beach! On one of the islands, you may just opt out of excursions and enjoy a fabulous day on an exotic beach!
--avoid packing valuable jewelry. Less is more.
--travel alarm. There are wake up calls, but sometimes they don’t always go through.
--share some things with roomies (i.e. hair dryer, curling irons, etc.).
--ladies, try bringing a lightweight sarong that can double as a towel, shawl, picnic cloth, skirt, scarf, coverup, etc.)
--wear your most bulky shoes and pack the lighter ones.
--It’s an overnight flight so try to get sleep. A neck pillow really helps! There are inflatable ones that save space in luggage and those comfy, cushy ones that I just drape on the outside of my luggage handle and don't pack.
--throw in a fabric softener sheet to keep your suitcase fresh.
--pack a flat duffel or backpack that you could use as a second carry on to hold souvenirs on the return flight.
--always have some tissue in your pocket…just in case there is no toilet paper at a pit stop.
--information on this blog is meant to be printed and used as your travel guide, so you only need to print the parts you want. However, if you want a published guide, I recommend the Dorling-Kindersley Eyewitness Travel Guides. They are detailed, lots of pictures and diagrams, and my favorite...but they are heavy! There is one for The Greek Islands and one for Athens. Try Half-Price Books or the used ones on Amazon.
--bring a watch…even if you have cell phone, to make sure you are on time when you need to be.
--the cruise has a semi-formal night, so pack something nice. Men do not have to wear a jacket, just a button shirt. Ladies can wear a dress or slacks, no formal long dress is required. Also there is a Greek night so wear something blue and white that night.
--checked bags should not be locked for possible security checks, so use a twist tie on the flight. You can lock them during the trip. Also if you check your bag, tell the check in attendant to check your bag all the way to Athens..and then make sure the tag they attach says Athens BEFORE they put it on the conveyer belt!

Check out this site on what to pack for Greece.
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Hotels

European hotels are somewhat smaller and less glamorous than US hotels. They usually have smaller elevators. It may be faster to use the stairs.

Continental breakfast is served each morning by the hotel. Expect cereal, breads, juice, coffee and tea; sometimes there has been more…according to the hotel. Dinners, other than the cruise, will usually be outside the hotel. Group dinners are pre-set menus.

They do not supply wash cloths, so bring them if you use them. All hotels do not have hair dryers. If you need one then pack a travel size. Share one with your roommate. Bring a battery-powered travel alarm. Hotels have wake up calls but sometimes rooms get missed.

European hotels often use large room keys that must be turned in to the front desk when leaving the hotel. Occasionally they use plastic swipe cards as room keys and those cards may be necessary to activate lights and power in the room. Place the card in a slot on the wall near the door of the room to turn on lights in the room.

Also it is rare if they have an English speaking staff. Shower pressure may be weaker if the hotel is an older building with older sewers. Rarely is there an ice machine or ice or TV or air conditioning. But all hotels will be clean, safe, and comfortable.

Oh, and by the way...do not expect ice in any beverage served in a restaurant. And tea is usually hot. When we ask for iced tea, they stare at us like we have two heads. Whoever heard of such nonsense, they think! So if we are lucky enough to get iced tea...shout yoo-hoo!
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International Cell Phone Service

Option #1: First and foremost, contact your service provider. Many providers have international plans that can save you a lot of money. If you have a smartphone (i.e. iphone), be sure to turn off data roaming because that is what really racks up the charges. Just check with your provider and get advice for your phone.

Option #2: Each of you received an EF flyer about ekit international cell phones and packages from EF. Contact EF if you are interested.

Option #3: EF also offers an ekit phone card for $20 talk time from public phones. I used one of these in China last year and it worked great to check in back home.

Note: Do not use the phones in hotel rooms to make international calls. It costs a fortune!
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Greek Island Cruise Update

You will definitely need to go to this link – 4 Day Greek Cruise – and print it out. It is the updated cruise information for our tour with the most current prices for shore excursions and updated information about such things as dress, meals and drinks, payments on board, accommodations and amenities, and tipping.

Note that even though they will tell us the name of the ship 2 weeks prior to departure, do not be surprised if there is another ship in port. Louis Cruise Lines reserves the right to change ships but guarantees the same ship standard.

Important: cabins on the cruise ship are very small. Your room will be below deck and may not have a porthole but will have air conditioning and private bath. Everyone will be roomed in twin rooms, but don’t plan to stay in your rooms! There is much to see and do!

All meals are provided on the cruise. The above document will tell the times of each meal. Drinks are not included but price for drink packages are listed.

Dress is primarily casual but expect a semi-formal night. There will be a Greek night where everyone is encouraged to dress in blue and white. For excursions, wear comfortable walking shoes and note that bare shoulders and shorts are not permitted at religious sites.

Gratuities are not included in your cruise fee. Expect $10 per day to be added to your shipboard account for tipping of staff. This is in addition to the tips we will have for the EF tour director and the EF bus driver. Our group is a private tour and we will be the only ones on the bus, but of course we will be with others on the cruise. Currency on board is the Euro. Shipboard accounts only accept cash or credit cards.

All shore excursions are booked through the cruise line while on the ship, not EF. Note these changes/additions from previous posts with this current brochure:
1. The cruise now offers a 3-hour walking tour of Mykonos for 44 euro. Is it worth it? You can probably walk around by yourself with a guide book cheaper. But read up on it and see if you need the extra help.
2. Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary excursion is now 65 euro (not 62). Ancient Ephesus excursion is now 62 euro (not 59). The increases are to be expected. The brochure we had when we first started was from 2 years ago.
3. Monastery of St. John and Grotto of the Apocalypse is now 51 euro (not 49). Tour of Patmos Island is now 39 euros (not 34).
4. Rhodes and Lindos ½ day excursion is now 53 euro (not 52). Old City and Philermos excursion is now 54 euros (not 47).
5. Knossos Palace excursion is now 58 euros (not 56). A Taste of Crete excursion (formerly called Panoramic Heraklion and Wine Tasting) is now 54 euros (not 52).
6. Excursion to Oia Village is now 55 euros (not 53) and the Santorini sailing and volcano is now 55 euros (not 52).